Size Adapter for Axle Spindles on Small Boat Dollies
One embodiment of a spindle size adapter for dolly axles to provide adaptability to and use of replacement wheels with various axle hub sizes. The spindle size adapter has a proximal end which mates closely into the existing axle frame to stabilize the new axle in the vertical, fore and aft and horizontal position and a distal end that forms the new axle spindle. The size of the adapter spindle is designed to match the most common available hub sizes used in aftermarket dolly wheels but is adapted to different hub sizes by sheathing the spindle with adapter sleeves. The spindle size adapter can be used with or without the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) existing spindle brackets because the manufacture's brackets are not needed to stabilize the spindle adapter. In another embodiment the shape of the middle part of the dolly axle size adapter is modified to be compatible with the form of the OEM axle brackets. Other embodiments allow a variety of spindle sizes and are described and shown.
This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/729,398, filed Nov. 22, 2012 by the present inventors.
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCHNone
SEQUENCE LISTINGNone
BACKGROUNDThis relates to boat dolly wheels and axle spindle sizes. Boat dollies are light weight structures used to portage small boats to and from water, hand launch small boats into water from beaches, ramps or other shores and store boats in boat yards. A number of dolly designs are currently available in the marketplace consisting of an axle, spindle, wheels, light frame, and handle. Most dollies for small sailboats use similar designs modified to fit specific one-design sailboats. Over a hundred thousand of these boats have been sold in the United States.
Most dollies and axles are framed with square (or sometimes round) aluminum tubing. Wheels are usually attached to the axle by means of a short round metal tube called a spindle that extends axially from the axle frame. Various brackets and fasteners are used to attach the spindle to the axle frame (Examples shown in
Since small boat dollies are subjected to low load forces (less than 500 pounds), the wheels and tires are usually of low load specification. Typically, the spindle is a hollow tube and therefore cannot be less than a minimum size to accommodate fasteners and still have sufficient residual strength to support the small boat. On commercially available small sailboat dollies, the spindle is not interchangeable with spindles that have smaller sized outside diameters, and therefore cannot accept wheels with smaller wheel hubs. No size adapter systems are commercially available.
The wheels and tires of small sailboat dollies have a limited life span due to deterioration of the rubber tire and/or the plastic wheel rim produced by dolly use, weather, and UV radiation of the sun and are considered replaceable items. For replacement, wheels and tires are typically sold as a unit. Widely available aftermarket wheel and tire combinations meeting tire load specifications of original equipment have hubs requiring spindles with a diameter size smaller than the original equipment. Since the original equipment manufacturers (OEM) wheel hub size on the small sailboat dollies is normally limited to the relatively large manufactured spindle size, the user of the dolly is primarily limited to the choice of replacement wheels supplied by the manufacturer, and has a very limited choice of aftermarket wheel and tire combination.
Many of the aftermarket wheels with small hubs have a variety of desirable characteristics useful for portage of boats over different terrains and ramp conditions. These include tires designed for sandy beaches, tires that will not go flat and tires of different widths and/or diameters to accommodate rough terrain. These aftermarket wheels cannot be used with the original dolly spindle because the original spindle cannot be modified or replaced to fit the aftermarket wheels with smaller diameters. Also wheels with these characteristics are not readably available with hub sizes matching the original equipment at competitive costs. In conclusion, none of the current spindle attachment methods to the axle frame allow the use of different hub sizes available in aftermarket replacement dolly wheels.
SUMMARYOur spindle size adapter improves current designs by allowing the user the option of substituting a variety of different dolly spindle sizes. The different spindle size options provide the opportunity to use a variety of aftermarket wheels and tires accommodating different utilization requirements by the user. In accordance with the first embodiment, a size adapter for a dolly axle spindle comprises two elements, a proximal element that mates with an existing axle frame and serves to stabilize the adapter, and a distal element that provides a spindle having a variety of spindle sizes that allows using wheels with different hub sizes.
ADVANTAGESAccordingly several advantages of one or more aspects are as follows: to allow the user to replace wheels for boat dollies with replacement wheels that have different hub sizes than original equipment manufacturer (OEM) supplied wheels. These replacement wheels are relatively inexpensive compared with OEM wheels and are available in a wide variety of styles to meet different terrain conditions. The variety of styles provides the user with the means to optimize the portage of his boat depending on the terrain on which he portages and launches his boat by fitting the needs to the wheel and tire design. Since the adapter provides its own stabilization to the axle frame or tube by the close mating surfaces of the proximal end of the size adapter against the inner sides of the axle frame tubing, the size adapter can be used with or without the OEM existing brackets. The distal end of the adapter (spindle) is rounded to the inside diameter of commonly available wheel hubs. Several embodiments can be used to adjust the outer diameter of the spindle to different sizes to increase the utility and adaptability of the claimed device.
Other advantages of one or more aspects will be apparent from a study of the following description and accompanying drawings.
FIGS. 1A to 1C—Examples of prior art. Perspective views of common spindle brackets and attachment of spindles
11, 11A, and 11B Spindle size adapter for dolly
11C and 11D Spindle size adapter modified to match round axle frame or OEM spindle bracket
12 Proximal element of spindle size adapter that fits into square frame of axle tube
12A Proximal element of spindle size adapter that fits into round frame of axle tube or adapted to larger frames or OEM spindle bracket
13 Distal element of spindle size adapter that forms a spindle that fits into wheel hub
13B Proximal extension of proximal element of spindle size adapter that provides different sized distal element of spindle size adapter that forms a spindle that fits into wheel hub when proximal and distal ends are reversed
14 Interconnecting element of spindle size adapter to fit manufacturers preexisting bracket
14A interconnecting element of spindle size adapter that fits into round frame of axle tube or adapted to larger frames or OEM spindle bracket
15 Holes for bolt(s), screws or other fasteners
15A Holes for fasteners in spindle size adapter
17 Hole for cotter pin or other devices to hold wheel on axle
18 Rounded edge to match inner corners of square tube axle frame
19 Sleeve adapter for spindle size adapter manufactured to match other sizes of wheel hubs
20 Adapter washers to adapt bolts to existing OEM oversize holes in square axle frame
21 Fasteners
22 Axle frame
23 Existing OEM bracket for axle spindle
24 Outer retaining washer
25 Cotter pin
26 Existing OEM axle spindle
27 Vertical strut on dolly axle to support boat or retain boat on dolly
28 Wheel hub
29 Lumen of adapter sleeve
30 Axial lumen in proximal element of spindle size adapter
31 Proximal end of distal element of spindle size adapter
32 Nuts to secure fasteners
33 Stabilizer bushing
34 Stabilizer bushing cap
35 Stabilizer bushing ferrule
36 Ferrules or spacers on existing OEM axle spindle bracket
37 Groove to stabilize axle spindle on existing OEM axle spindle bracket
DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIGS. 2A, 2B, 3, AND 5 First EmbodimentThe spindle size adapter 11 shown in
Element 13 of axle size adapter 11 shown in
In operating this embodiment (Fids. 2A, 2B, 3, 5), one uses the axle spindle size adapter 11 to allow replacement of the existing wheel and tire with another wheel and tire having a different hub size. By using a sleeve adapter 19 on the axle spindle size adapter shown in
1. To install the axle spindle adapter, the fasteners 21 shown in
2. The proximal end of the spindle size adapter 12 is inserted into the square (or other geometric shape) axle frame tube 22 and the existing bolt holes or screw holes 15A aligned with those of the axle spindle size adapter 15 as shown in
3. If the manufacturer's brackets 23 in
4. If the manufacturer's brackets 23 in
5.The adapter's axle spindle 13 is inserted into the hub of a new wheel 28 in
6. Or if needed the outer axle spindle 13 is inserted into a axle adapter sleeve 19 and the process step 5 is repeated.
Thus the reader can see that various embodiments of the spindle size adapter for dolly axles provides a useful, easily installed, and economical method of varying the dolly spindle size so that the user can use aftermarket wheels and tires that have different hub sizes. These replacement wheels are relatively inexpensive compared with original equipment manufacturer (OEM) supplied wheels and are available in a wide variety of styles to meet different user needs, including use on different terrains. Furthermore, the spindle adapter has the additional advantages in that:
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- The ease of removal and installation of wheels on this adapter and the ability to use a range of spindle sizes with the same adapter provides the user with an option of substituting a variety of wheels when he portages his dolly under different conditions and on different terrains.
- The adapter provides its own stabilization to the axle frame and thus can be used without the OEM existing spindle bracket to provide the stabilization. The ability to function without the OEM spindle bracket enhances its flexibility and adaptability to a wide range of dolly axles.
- The adapter is easily modified to function with axle frames of different styles by modifying the proximal end of the spindle adapter, adding a interconnecting element between the proximal and distal end of the spindle adapter, and/or providing adapter stabilizer bushing.
- Spindle sleeves may be color coded to provide easy recognition of sizes which would be useful for sailing clubs for refitting wheels.
While my above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope, but rather as an exemplification of several embodiments thereof. Many other variations are possible. For example, a spindle adapter can be constructed so that the proximal element, either square or round in cross section, possesses an axial lumen that encompasses a tube forming a spindle whose distal end is the desired spindle size and which is held in the lumen by means of a fastener.
Accordingly, the scope should be determined not by the embodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.
Claims
1. A spindle size adapter for axle spindles comprising
- a. a proximal element providing means for mating closely with an axle frame thereby stabilizing said proximal element and preventing vertical, fore and aft, and horizontal motion and
- b. a distal element comprising a spindle providing means for mounting a wheel hub on said distal element and
- c. said spindle possessing an outside diameter designed to fit a wheel hub of a different diameter
- d. whereby a user has the options of mounting a variety of wheels with different styles and hub sizes that are better adapted to different terrains, ramps or conditions.
2. The spindle size adapter for axle spindles of claim 1 wherein an interconnecting element is located between the proximal element and the distal element
- a. said interconnecting element of claim 2 providing structural elements to mate with portions of existing manufacturer's axle, spindle brackets or a plurality of fasteners and holes
- b. whereby user can use the axle spindle size adapter of claim 1 with existing manufacturer's axle, spindle brackets or a plurality of fasteners and holes.
3. An spindle size adapter for axle spindles of claim 1 wherein the spindle includes a removable sleeve and
- a. said sleeve providing the means of mating concentrically with the said spindle of claim 1 and
- b. said sleeves possessing different outside diameters providing means to vary the effective outside diameter of said distal element
- c. whereby said spindle fit into a variety of hub sizes.
4. The spindle size adapter for axle spindles of claim 1 wherein said proximal element possessing an axial lumen and said distal element comprising a spindle and a proximal extension
- a. said axial lumen providing means for said proximal element to mate with a distal element
- b. said proximal extension of distal element is shaped to mate with said lumen in said proximal element and
- c. different said spindles possessing different outside diameters to provide a variety of different axle sizes and
- d. said different outside diameters fit into wheel hubs of different sizes and styles and
- e. whereby a user can utilize wheels of different hub sizes on a given dolly.
5. The spindle size adapter for axle spindles of claim 1 wherein the exterior surface of said proximal element is rounded into a tubular shape
- a. said proximal element providing means for said spindle size adapter to mate with the inner lumen of round axle frames or
- b. said proximal element providing means for said spindle size adapter to mate with a existing manufacture's spindle bracket and
- c. said proximal element optionally extended to provide a different spindle size adapter when reversed with said distal end of said spindle size adapter and
- d. different said spindle adapters providing a means to provide a variety of different spindle sizes and
- e. said different outside spindle sizes fit into wheel hubs of different sizes and styles and
- f. whereby a user can utilize wheels of different hub sizes on a given dolly.
6. A stabilizer bushing for said spindle size adapter of claim 5 comprising
- a. a widened cap that functions as a washer and
- b. an attached ferrule extending into interior of an axle frame and contacting the lateral surface of said spindle size adapter and
- c. said ferrules prevent the fore and aft movement of said spindle size adapter
- d. whereby said spindle size adapter can be used with square axle frames or axle frames with lumens unable to mate with said spindle size adapter
- e. thereby increasing the versatility of said spindle size adapter design.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 19, 2013
Publication Date: Apr 23, 2015
Inventors: James Woodrow Beauchamp (Atlanta, GA), Thomas Lee Beauchamp (Atlanta, GA), Robert Frazier Beauchamp (Atlanta, GA)
Application Number: 14/058,232
International Classification: B60B 35/02 (20060101); B60B 35/00 (20060101); B60B 35/04 (20060101);